UConn AD Confirms Paul Pasqualoni Will Return, But Wants To See Adjustments

UConn athletic director Warde Manuel confirmed Tuesday that football coach Paul Pasqualoni will be back for a third season.

The Huskies wrapped up their second consecutive 5-7 season under Pasqualoni with a 34-17 loss Saturday to Cincinnati at Rentschler Field.

Manuel had a meeting Monday with Pasqualoni in which the two discussed the direction and future of the program. Manuel said he expects to see some adjustments next season, but would not discuss specifics of the meeting.

"It was a very good meeting. … Paul knew my decision, so it wasn't designed as an evaluation or anything," Manuel said. "There weren't any ultimatums or anything like that. I don't manage by threatening."

Manuel confirmed that the two talked about the coaching staff. He said he did not tell Pasqualoni to make any changes.

A source with knowledge of the meeting, however, said Manuel did suggest that someone other than offensive coordinator George DeLeone should call the plays next season.

The Huskies' offense has been dreadful the past two seasons. Personnel is an issue but trying to get that personnel to perform at Division I-A level was a chore and the national statistics bear out that fact: UConn was 109th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in total offense.

"Paul is the leader of the team," Manuel said. "He's got to make the best decisions he feels from a staff standpoint, from a players standpoint. We had conversations in general about it, but I'm not going to dictate to my coaches who does what on the staff."

"I sit down and do the same thing with all my coaches after the season whether we're undefeated or we struggle but obviously, if we struggle, those conversations are a little bit more frequent," Manuel said.

"Look, I saw a team that played up and down, but played hard, never quit, wasn't lack of effort. As I said earlier in the season, we need to improve on the mistakes. Coaches need to make better decisions all around and put [the players] in better positions. Everybody has to improve. In my conversations with Paul, I know he's working on that. I know he understands what he needs to do to be better next season. So I totally expect we'll make the adjustments we need, that we'll recruit student-athletes that can come in and try to help us now where we need it, and that we'll develop the players that are coming back — all in an effort to ensure success on the field."

Manuel said he does not have any number of wins in mind that the Huskies must get next season. It is fair to say that his expectation for next season is to be in a bowl game?

"Yes," he said. "That's fair, sure, but to that point about managing, I don't want people operating under fear. Now, they should be operating under a strong expectation of success, but not fear — there's a difference."

The Huskies have come up a win shy of postseason eligibility each of the past two seasons. The Huskies' 2013 schedule is tougher than it was in 2012, especially in the non-conference portion because it includes Michigan and Maryland (Towson and Buffalo are also in the mix with the Huskies needing one more non-conference game).

If the Huskies don't go to a bowl game, then the reasons why they didn't go will be the focus, and that could produce one result. Pasqualoni's tenure could end three years into a five-year deal.

The other side of the UConn football equation is the frustrated fan base.

"I hear our fans and I understand their disappointment, but we're going to make the adjustments to have a better performance on the field than we had this year," Manuel said.

Jones Leaving

Redshirt sophomore receiver Tebucky Jones Jr., of Farmington, has decided to transfer. Jones had not cracked the six-man rotation all season. He is the son of Super Bowl champion safety Tebucky Jones Sr. "I think this is the right thing for him," Jones Sr. said. He likely will go to Fordham. Former UConn assistant Joe Moorhead is the head coach at the I-AA school. Jones would not have to sit out a year.